How to Lay Vinyl Plank Over Existing Flooring

Vinyl planks are a wood look-alike material designed for DIY use.

One of the evolutions of the do-it-yourself industry has been the creation of easy-to-use and easy-to-install products, such as vinyl plank flooring. Similar to laminate plank flooring, it is a wood look-alike product that is much easier to install but still provides durability and flexibility. Unlike tile floors, which have a very specific series of underlayment requirements, vinyl plank floors can be installed over existing flooring so long as it is clean of debris, in good repair and completely flat.

1

Clean the surface of the installation area with a mop, water and a household cleaner. The floor needs to be free of debris, dirt and dust before installation. Allow at least 24 hours for the floor to dry before starting the installation.

2

Check the dimensions of the floor to see if you can start with a full strip of planking along the longest wall and simply run row by row. Use the width of the planks to determine if your termination strip, the row on the opposite side of the room from your starting point, will be a large enough cut or if it will be an ugly little sliver piece.

3

Adjust the layout if necessary by adding a cut along your starting point, thus increasing the size of the termination strip. Measure out from the starting wall the width of one full row plus the size of the cut you want to use. Place a mark on the floor with a pencil on opposite ends of your starting wall. Snap a chalk line between the two marks, giving you a parallel chalk line with the starting wall.

4

Cut your starting strips of vinyl planking to size with the utility knife. Snap a chalk line across the planking to guide your knife blade as you cut lengthwise. Cut the waste side off so you leave the self-adhesive strip on the edge facing into the room.

5

Install the cut strip against the wall, using the chalk line as a guide to keep the installation edge straight. Place the strip down on the floor and remove the paper covering the adhesive stripping on each end so the piece adjacent to it can adhere. When you get to the end of the row, cut a piece to the correct width with the utility knife and use the square to keep the cut at a 90-degree angle.

6

Install your first full row along the length of your first row of cuts. Peel away the paper from the adhesive strips on the row of cuts so your first full length row of planks adhere to the strips. Push the planks into place on top of the adhesive strips and work your way down the length of the row.

7

Repeat the process for each adjacent row, peeling off the protective paper from the previous row to expose the adhesive strips and then pressing the planks into place. Use a metal roller to further push the pieces together and work your way back row by row until you finish the floor.

Things You Will Need

Mop

Hand broom

Tape measure

Pencil

Chalk line

Framing square

Utility knife

Tip

When starting your first row against the left or ride side of your installation area, it is common to start with a half plank, then your next row will start with a full plank, and the third row with a half plank and so on. You can also cut off one-third of the first plank, then two-thirds of the second plank and alternate every three rows.

Any cuts into the side walls can be cut with the utility knife. For best results, regularly change out the utility blade to easily cut the vinyl planking.

About the Author

Tim Anderson has been freelance writing since 2007. His has been published online through GTV Magazine, Home Anatomy, TravBuddy, MMO Hub, Killer Guides and the Delegate2 group. He spent more than 15 years as a third-generation tile and stone contractor before transitioning into freelance writing.